Telescopic handle for piece of luggage

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a telescopic handle ( 1 ) for pieces of luggage, in particular travel suitcases, having an outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ), which is arranged on the piece of luggage in a stationary manner, an inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ), which can be accommodated in and pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ), and a handle part ( 7 ), which is arranged on the end ( 6 ) of the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) that can be pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ), wherein the telescopic handle ( 1 ) can be adjusted from an idle position thereof, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) is accommodated in the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ), to an operating position thereof, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) is pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ) and the piece of luggage can be moved and steered by means of the telescopic handle ( 1 ). In order to provide the telescopic handle with significantly greater ease of use without changing the dimensions of the telescopic handle, the telescopic handle ( 1 ) according to the invention has a positioning and energy-storage device ( 20 ), by means of which the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) can be moved from a position thereof that corresponds to the idle position of the telescopic handle ( 1 ) and in which the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) is accommodated in the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ) to an intermediate position, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) is slightly pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly ( 2 ) and the handle part ( 7 ) arranged on the inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) can be comfortably encircled and from which the handle part ( 7 ) can be brought into the operating position of the telescopic handle ( 1 ). According to the invention the positioning and energy-storage device ( 20 ) is integrated inside the outer ( 2 ) and inner telescopic tube assembly ( 4 ) of the telescopic handle ( 1 ).

The invention relates to a telescopic handle for a piece of luggage, in particular a travel suitcase, having an outer telescopic tube assembly on the piece of luggage in a fixed manner, an inner telescopic tube assembly that can be accommodated in and pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly, and a handle part on the end of the inner telescopic tube assembly that can be pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly, wherein the telescopic handle can be adjusted from a rest position thereof, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is accommodated in the outer telescopic tube assembly, to an operating position thereof, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly and the piece of luggage can be moved and steered by the telescopic handle.

Piece of luggage, in particular a travel suitcase, are nowadays usually fitted with rollers and with a telescopic handle by means of which the piece of luggage can be moved relatively easily. These telescopic or pull-out handles have gained acceptance because on the one hand when the piece of luggage is to be stowed, they can be inserted in a space-saving manner into the piece of luggage and on the other hand, when the piece of luggage is to be moved, they can be pulled out to a certain length. The advantage of these telescopic handles lies in the fact that they can be adjusted independently of the size of the respective piece of luggage to a comfortable handle height for the respective user. In order to bring the telescopic handle into its operating position in which the piece of luggage can be moved and maneuvered by means therefore, the telescopic handle is pulled out manually and the telescopic handle is retracted manually to bring it back into the rest position.

Starting from the previously described prior art, it is the object of the invention to further develop the generic telescopic handle for a piece of luggage, in particular a travel suitcase in such a manner that its operating comfort is increased considerably without changing its external dimensions.

This object is solved according to the invention whereby the telescopic handle has a positioning and energy-storage device 20, by means of which the inner telescopic tube assembly can be moved from a position thereof that corresponds to the rest position of the telescopic handle and in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is accommodated in the outer telescopic tube assembly to an intermediate position, in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is slightly pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly and the handle part on the inner telescopic tube assembly can be comfortably encircled and from which the handle part can be brought into the operating position of the telescopic handle and that the positioning and energy-storage device is integrated inside the outer and inner telescopic tube assembly of the telescopic handle. In the case of the telescopic handle configured according to the invention, in the rest position of the telescopic handle, the handle part connected to the inner telescopic tube assembly can be accommodated or inserted completely in a fixed handle guide housing in relation to the outer telescopic tube assembly since a manual actuation of this handle part as such is not necessary in the rest position of the telescopic handle. By the positioning and energy-storage device provided according to the invention, the inner telescopic tube assembly and with this the handle part provided in a fixed manner on the inner telescopic tube assembly can be brought into the intermediate position in which the handle part can be easily handled in the usual manner. By integrating the positioning and energy-storage device in the cavity formed inside the telescopic tubes of the telescopic handle, it is achieved that the dimensions of the telescopic handle are not increased as a result of the presence of the positioning and energy-storage device.

In particular in the case of comparatively small a travel suitcase or items of luggage, it is advantageous if an intermediate telescopic tube assembly is between the inner telescopic tube assembly and the outer telescopic tube assembly. The intermediate telescopic tubes are usually connected to the inner and outer telescopic tubes. As a result of the presence of the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, the operating position of the telescopic handle can be adjusted over a larger longitudinal range.

Expediently a positioning and energy-storage device is provided per telescopic tube of the inner telescopic tube assembly. This results in an equalization of the forces that must be exerted and transmitted between the individual telescopic tubes of the telescopic handle.

According to an advantageous further development of the telescopic handle according to the invention, the positioning and energy-storage device thereof can be actuated by a handle arranged adjustably on the handle part, by means of which a locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly can be moved into and out of engagement with a locking member in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly.

Advantageously the locking member in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, preferably pressed into the outer telescopic tube assembly or into the intermediate telescopic tube assembly can be configured as a lower end section of a toothed rod extending along the outer telescopic tube assembly or the central intermediate telescopic tube assembly, wherein the toothed rod has the lower end section with which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly is in engagement in the rest position of the telescopic handle, a sliding section that extends above the lower end section of the toothed rod and in which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly cannot engage, and an upper section that extends above the sliding section of the toothed rod and in which the locking arrangement in the inner telescopic tube assembly can engage quasi-continuously.

In order to achieve the locking in a mechanically constructively comparatively simple manner, it is proposed that the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly is pre-tensioned in the direction of the toothed rod and can be moved out of engagement with the toothed rod by an actuator connected to the handle on the handle part side. When in the rest position of the telescopic handle accordingly the engagement between the locking element on the handle part side and the toothed rack is cancelled by the handle, the positioning and energy-storage device of the telescopic handle is automatically put into operation, by which the inner telescopic tube assembly is raised from the outer telescopic tube assembly or from the intermediate telescopic tube assembly.

Advantageously the actuator is connected to the handle on the handle part side by a tension means and can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly wherein the actuator furthermore has a sloping surface arrangement by means of which the longitudinal movement can be converted into an adjustment of the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly directed in the transverse direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly, by means of which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly can be moved out of engagement with the toothed rod.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the telescopic handle according to the invention, a tilting lever is pivotable by the handle thereof, by means of which the actuator is movable in the longitudinal direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly by the tension means.

In order to be able to adjust or displace the actuator connected to the locking element in a defined manner, it is proposed that the actuator is displaceable in an adjusting chamber firmly inserted in the inner telescopic tube assembly, preferably pressed in.

The positioning and energy-storage device of the telescopic handle according to the invention advantageously comprises a compression spring that in the rest position of the telescopic handle is compressed between the inner telescopic tube assembly and the outer telescopic tube assembly or the intermediate telescopic tube assembly. By this means, on the one hand the possibility is afforded that upon release of the compression spring, the inner telescopic tube assembly is raised by a pre-definable stroke from the outer telescopic tube assembly or from the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, wherein furthermore in a mechanically constructive less complex manner, possibilities can be achieved by means of which the compression spring can be compressed in a suitable manner when pushing together the telescopic handle.

Advantageously the compression spring of the positioning and energy-storage device of the telescopic handle according to the invention holds a drive or lifting rod that in the rest position of the telescopic handle can be clamped between the tensioned compression spring and the outer telescopic tube or the central telescopic tube.

Advantageously by the compression spring, after cancelling the engagement between the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly and the lower section of the toothed rod in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, the inner telescopic tube assembly can be raised from the outer telescopic tube assembly or the intermediate telescopic tube assembly by a stroke length corresponding to the length of the sliding section of the toothed rod and the locking element. This ensures that the locking element on the handle part side comes into engagement with the upper section of the toothed rod, wherein in this position of the locking element on the handle part side and therefore of the handle part, the telescopic handle adopts its intermediate position.

The stroke length is advantageously about 20 mm.

The invention is explained in detail hereinafter by an embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a section view of one embodiment of the telescopic handle according to the invention for a piece of luggage in which the telescopic handle is in the rest position;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the embodiment of the telescopic handle according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, wherein an inner telescopic tube assembly of the telescopic handle is located in an intermediate position;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a positioning and energy-storage device of the telescopic handle according to the invention in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the embodiment of the telescopic handle according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 to with the inner telescopic tube assembly located in its completely pulled-out form; and

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the positioning and energy-storage device of the telescopic handle shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the pulled-out end position of the inner telescopic tube assembly.

A telescopic handle 1, also called pull-out handle, according to the invention, shown in different positions in FIGS. 1 to 5 and explained hereinafter, is used to move piece of luggage, in particular a travel suitcase or similar containers, not shown in the figures.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the telescopic handle 1 has an outer telescopic tube assembly formed of two outer telescopic tubes 2, a central telescopic tube assembly or intermediate telescopic tube assembly formed of two central telescopic tubes 3, wherein the central telescopic tube 3 is in each case inside the outer telescopic tube 2, and an inner telescopic tube assembly formed from two inner telescopic tubes 4, wherein the inner telescopic tube 4 is in each case inside the central telescopic tube 3.

The central telescopic tubes 3 are each connected to the outer telescopic tubes 2 or the inner telescopic tubes 4 in a telescopic manner so that they can be pulled out and pushed in.

The two outer telescopic tubes 2 are firmly connected to the piece of luggage by spacers 5.

The two inner telescopic tubes 4 are connected to one another by a handle part 7 at the ends 6 thereof that can be pulled out from the outer telescopic tubes 2.

The two outer telescopic tubes 2 are—as already mentioned—attached in a fixed manner to the piece of luggage not shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. At the upper ends 8 thereof in FIGS. 1 to 5, the two outer telescopic tubes 2 are connected to one another by a handle guide housing 9, wherein in a rest position of the telescopic handle 1 in which the inner telescopic tubes 4 and the central telescopic tubes 3 are accommodated inside the outer telescopic tubes 2, the handle part 7 of the telescopic handle 1 is accommodated in the handle guide housing 9 of the same.

The handle part 7 of the telescopic handle 1 can be locked by a lock 10 in or on the handle guide housing 9.

To this end, the lock 10 comprises a locking member 11 in a fixed manner in the central telescopic tube 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown the locking member 11 provided in a fixed manner in or on the central telescopic tube 3 is configured as lower end section 11 of a toothed rod 12 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the central telescopic tube 3 in the same. Furthermore, the lock 10 includes a locking element 13 that can be brought into and out of engagement with the lower end section 11 of the toothed rod 12 provided as locking member.

The locking element 13 sits on an actuator 14 connected via a tension means 15 that extends through the telescopic tube assembly and a tilting lever 16 to a handle 17 accommodated on the handle part 7

The locking element 13 is pre-tensioned by a transverse spring element 18 in the direction of the toothed rod 12. A sloping surface arrangement 19 is provided on the actuator 14. When the actuator 14 is raised by actuating the handle 17 on the handle part side via the tilting lever 16 and the tension means 15, the actuator 14 and with it the locking element 13 is moved by the sloping surface arrangement 19 against the spring force of the transverse spring element 18 in the radial direction of the telescopic tube assembly so that the locking element 13 comes out of engagement with the lower end section 11 of the toothed rod 12. As soon as the engagement between the locking element 13 connected to the handle part 7 via the tension means 15 and the lower end section 11 of the toothed rod 12 in a fixed manner in relation to the intermediate telescopic tube assembly 3 is cancelled, the inner telescopic tube assembly 4 is movable in relation to the intermediate telescopic tube assembly 3.

In order to bring the handle part 7 accommodated inside or on the handle guide housing 9 in the rest position of the telescopic handle 1, into an intermediate position in which the handle part 7 is readily encircled, the telescopic handle 1 has a positioning and energy-storage device 20. This positioning and energy-storage device 20 includes a compression spring 21 on the inner telescopic tube 4 and on which a lifting or drive rod 22 is fixed for its part.

In the rest position of the telescopic handle 1 shown in FIG. 1 the positioning and energy-storage device 20 comprising the compression spring 21 and the lifting or drive rod 22 is fixed between the inner telescopic tube 4 and the central telescopic tube 3 when the compression spring 21 is compressed. In the rest position of the telescopic handle 1, the lifting or drive rod 22 abuts with its lower end against a stop 26 provided in the central telescopic tube 3. As soon as the engagement between the locking element 13 connected to the handle part 7 and the lower section 11 of the toothed rod 12 connected to the central telescopic tube 3 is cancelled, the inner telescopic tube 4 is displaced in the upwards direction by the mechanical energy stored in the compression spring 21 of the positioning and energy-storage device 20.

Since the toothed rod 12 is formed with a toothing-free sliding section 23 above its lower end section 11, after cancelling the engagement between locking element 13 on the handle part side and the locking member 11 provided on the central telescopic tube 3, the actuation of the handle 17 need not be maintained.

The handle part 7 is moved in the upwards direction as a result of the interaction between the positioning and energy-storage device 20 and the central telescopic tube 3 or the stop 26 provided therein until the locking element 13 on the handle part side is pushed directly above the sliding section 23 of the toothed rod 12 by the transverse spring element 18 again into engagement with a toothed upper section 24 of the toothed rod 12.

By actuating the handle 17 on the handle part side once, the telescopic handle 1 can accordingly be brought from its rest position shown in FIG. 1 into its intermediate position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 whereby the handle part 7 of the telescopic handle 1 is moved away from the handle guide housing 9 of the telescopic handle 1 by a pre-definable stroke length and thus can be embraced or gripped around in a simple and convenient manner.

If the telescopic handle 1 is to be moved from the intermediate position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 into a pulled-out operating position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the engagement between the toothed upper section 24 of the toothed rod can be cancelled again by renewed actuation of the handle. By this means the inner telescopic tube 4 is movable relative to the outer telescopic tube 2 until the operator has found a suitable operating position of the telescopic handle 1 for him and ends the actuation of the handle 17. In this operating position the engagement between the locking element 13 on the handle part side and the corresponding part of the upper section 24 of the toothed rod 12 is accordingly made again. The telescopic handle 1 is now located in the operating position selected by the operator. In FIGS. 4 and 5 the selected operating position of the telescopic handle 1′ is selected so that the locking element 13 on the handle part side at an upper end section of the toothed rod 12 is in engagement with the same. Naturally other operating positions of the telescopic handle 1 are also possible. The adjustable handle 1 is adjustable quasi-continuously between different operating positions according to the dimensions of the upper section 24 of the toothed rod 12.

In order to ensure a defined sequence of the adjustment of the actuator 14 brought about by the handle 17 on the handle part side, the actuator 14 is displaceably accommodated inside an adjusting chamber 25 firmly inserted or pressed in the inner telescopic tube 4.

In order to bring or push the telescopic handle 1 from the operating position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 back into the rest position shown in FIG. 1, the handle 17 on the handle part side must be actuated for the duration of the push-in process so that the locking element 13 on the handle part side is loosened or released from its locking with the upper section 24 of the toothed rod 12. In this state the inner telescopic tube 4 and the central telescopic tube 3 can be pushed back again into the outer telescopic tube 2. As a result of the simultaneous application of force to the handle part 7 in the direction of the telescopic insertion as far as the stop, the positioning and energy-storage device 20 or its compression spring 21 is pre-tensioned again. On reaching the end position of the telescopic handle 1 defined by a stop, the actuation of the handle 17 is ended so that the locking element 13 on the handle part side is brought into engagement with the locking member or the lower end section 11 of the toothed rod 12.

The telescopic handle 1 has the same type of functional members in both telescopic tubes in both inner telescopic tubes 4. central telescopic tubes 3 and outer telescopic tubes 2, wherein hereinbefore the description and operating mode have been made for one outer telescopic tube 2, central telescopic tube 3 and inner telescopic tube 4. 

1. A telescopic handle for a piece of luggage comprising: an outer telescopic tube assembly fixed on the piece of luggage, an inner telescopic tube assembly that can be accommodated in and pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly, a handle part on the end of the inner telescopic tube assembly that can be pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly, the telescopic handle being movable from a rest position in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is in the outer telescopic tube assembly to an operating position in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly and the piece of luggage can be moved and steered by the telescopic handle, and a positioning and energy-storage device that can move the inner telescopic tube assembly from a position that corresponds to the rest position of the telescopic handle and in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is in the outer telescopic tube assembly to an intermediate position in which the inner telescopic tube assembly is slightly pulled out of the outer telescopic tube assembly and the handle part on the inner telescopic tube assembly can be comfortably grasped by a hand and from which the handle part can be brought into the operating position of the telescopic handle, the positioning and energy-storage device being integrated inside the outer and inner telescopic tube assembly of the telescopic handle.
 2. The telescopic handle according to claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate telescopic tube assembly is between the inner telescopic tube assembly and the outer telescopic tube assembly.
 3. The telescopic handle according to claim 1, wherein a positioning and energy-storage device is provided for each telescopic tube of the inner telescopic tube assembly.
 4. The telescopic handle according to any claim 1, wherein the positioning and energy-storage device which can be actuated by a handle arranged adjustably on the handle part, by means of which a locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly can be moved into and out of engagement with a locking member in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly.
 5. The telescopic handle according to claim 4, wherein the locking member in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, preferably pressed into the outer telescopic tube assembly or into the intermediate telescopic tube assembly is configured as a lower end section of a toothed rod extending along the outer telescopic tube assembly or the central intermediate telescopic tube assembly, with the lower end section with which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly is in engagement in the rest position of the telescopic handle, a sliding section that extends above the lower end section of the toothed rod and in which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly cannot engage, and an upper section that extends above the sliding section of the toothed rod and in which the locking arrangement in the inner telescopic tube assembly can engage quasi-continuously.
 6. The telescopic handle according to claim 4, wherein the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly is pre-tensioned in the direction of the toothed rod and can be moved out of engagement with the toothed rod by an actuator connected to the handle on the handle part side.
 7. The telescopic handle according to claim 6, with which the actuator is connected to the handle on the handle part side by a tension means and can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly and has a sloping surface arrangement by means of which the longitudinal movement thereof can be converted into an adjustment of the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly directed in the transverse direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly, by means of which the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly can be moved out of engagement with the toothed rod.
 8. The telescopic handle according to claim 7, by the handle of which a tilting lever is pivotable, by means of which the actuator is movable in the longitudinal direction of the inner telescopic tube assembly by the tension means.
 9. The telescopic handle according to any claim 6, wherein the actuator is displaceable in an adjusting chamber firmly inserted in the inner telescopic tube assembly, preferably pressed in.
 10. The telescopic handle according to any claim 1, wherein the positioning and energy-storage device comprises a compression spring that in the rest position of the telescopic handle is compressed between the inner telescopic tube assembly and the outer telescopic tube assembly or the intermediate telescopic tube assembly.
 11. The telescopic handle according to claim 10, wherein the compression spring holds a drive or lifting rod that in the rest position of the telescopic handle can be clamped between the tensioned compression spring and the outer telescopic tube or the central telescopic tube.
 12. The telescopic handle according to claim 10, wherein by the compression spring, after cancelling the engagement between the locking element in the inner telescopic tube assembly and the lower section of the toothed rod in the outer telescopic tube assembly or in the intermediate telescopic tube assembly, the inner telescopic tube assembly can be raised from the outer telescopic tube assembly or the intermediate telescopic tube assembly by a stroke length corresponding to the length of the sliding section of the toothed rod and the locking element.
 13. The telescopic handle according to claim 12, wherein the stroke length is about 20 mm. 